First National Bank of Corsicana

An institution whose history reflects rise of a landmark city. Corsicana was founded about 1850. In 1871, when the Houston & Texas Central gave the town rail connections with national commerce, two former H. & T. C. employees established this bank as a private concern. The men were Capt. James Garitty (1842-1925), experienced as a bank clerk, and Joseph Huey (1827-1904), a tin and hardware dealer. The firm was called Garitty, Huey & Company, and served cotton growers as well as ranchers and cowboys driving cattle to the railroad. By 1886 their business had expanded so greatly that they incorporated and obtained a charter for the First National Bank of Corsicana, with capital of $125,000 and surplus of $75,000. Drilling for a new municipal water well in 1894 brought first major oil and gas discovery in Texas. The pioneer field developed first use in the state of natural gas in lighting and heating, first use of petroleum for railroad locomotives, first use of oil in highway surfacing. Texas' first refinery was built in Corsicana. During and after the years of petroleum industry development, the city gained other business and cultural advantages, with this bank giving aid and leadership in many phases of civic progress.

First National Bank of Corsicana is a historical marker in Corsicana, Navarro County, dedicated in 1971. It is one of 128 historical markers documented in Navarro County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 218 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.0968, -96.4771 near Corsicana. The nearest cataloged historic site is Drane, Frank Neal (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Taylor, Alva, Indian Trading Post, and Mills, Roger Q., Colonel.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5349007200. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.